CAMPUS MINISTRIES PROMOTE MORE THAN RELIGION

Ann Menz, left, Daine McKee and Kim Roper judged the canned creations from above.

Students collected 1,800 cans through the cooperation of the Student Dietetic Association and the Campus Ministries.

Mike Parry of the Baptist Student Union helped deliver cans of food to Red Star Baptist Church.

Local college students have many classes and extracurricular activities to choose from. Thanks to the efforts of several religious organizations, students also may choose to become active in more spiritual pursuits.

Campus ministers said students of all ages and backgrounds become active in religious organizations at the university. Most often, students who attended church and religious activities regularly as children maintain their participation at the college level.

Freshmen, sophomores and juniors are the most active. Seniors often have lower participation rates because they are focusing their efforts on graduation and finding a job.

Several denominations, including Catholic, Baptist, Wesleyan and Lutheran, provide on-campus congregational centers at Southeast Missouri State University. Students can use the centers for Bible study, to organize music, puppet or dramatic ministries, or just to "hang out."

"It's a house -- we've got sofas, chairs, everything," said Chris Komorech, a peer minister at the Wesley House. "A homey atmosphere is important to ministry. It's for everyone and anybody."

Other religion-based organizations on campus remain active despite their lack of privately owned facilities. Groups such as the Fellowship for Christian Athletes and Intervarsity encourage students to uphold and openly display their Christian beliefs but are not affiliated with an individual denomination. Both groups are affiliated with national organizations.

All of the campus ministries encourage students to participate in religious activities as well as non-faith-based organizations. Campus ministers said students need to be well-rounded and should be active in student government, club and varsity athletics, and other organizations.

"I'm getting the impression a lot of those who are active here are active in at least one other organization," said Sister Cynthia Hruby. "We encourage that because it's more like the world."

Mike Perry, campus minister at the Baptist Student Union, agreed. "We feel they're going to be more well-rounded if they're active in other things," he said.

Several times each semester groups work together on ecumenical projects to further Christian principles. Projects like Habitat for Humanity promote the existence of faith, regardless of denomination, said campus ministers. Not all organizations get involved, but many believe that ecumenical projects are an important part of spreading religion, they said.

Most recently, campus ministries teamed up with the Student Dietetic Association in observance of World Food Day. Groups competed to construct the best sculptures out of canned foods. The food was later donated to the Red Star Baptist Church food pantry.

Students also were encouraged to donate their Wednesday evening meal to alleviate world hunger. Better than $400 was donated to FISH food pantry.

"To see all the different types of stuff you know people have put lots of time into -- it's just a good feeling to help people across the world," said Komorech.